BBC One Announces New Production Of The Woman In White

Ben Hardy and Jessie Buckley have been announced as the stars in a new BBC One adaptation of Wilkie Collins' psychological thriller, The Woman In White.

Filming has commenced on The Woman In White, starring Ben Hardy (X-Men, EastEnders) as Walter Hartright and Jessie Buckley (War And Peace, Taboo) as Marian Halcombe.

Ben and Jessie will be joined by Olivia Vinall (Apple Tree Yard) as Laura Fairlie, Charles Dance (And Then There Were None, Game of Thrones) as Mr Fairlie and Dougray Scott (The Replacement, Mission: Impossible II) as Sir Percival Glyde. Other cast include Art Malik (Sherlock), Joanna Scanlon (The Thick Of It), Vicki Pepperdine (Getting On) and Riccardo Scamarcio (London Spy).

Commenting on the new production, Ben Hardy said: "I have always admired and been a fan of the BBC's period dramas and I'm so thrilled to be playing the leading role of Walter in this classic story."

Jessie Buckley added: "It's really exciting to be playing a woman like Marion who has such a strength and rooted integrity. In the midst of this Victorian male puppeteered world where suspense, interrogation and speculative intoxication is what drives this story forward you find Marion, who is undefined by her sex and undefined by her society. She is the Janis Joplin of her time and I can't wait to learn from this wonderful woman."

After Walter Hartright encounters a ghostly woman dressed in all white on a moonlit road, he soon finds himself drawn into a mysterious and disturbing world. Romance, suspense, and danger combine as secrets come to the fore in Wilkie Collins' haunting tale of insanity and identity.

Viewed by many as the first psychological thriller novel, The Woman In White will take viewers on a chilling ride down the shadowy paths and corridors of English country houses and ultimately into the depths of the Victorian madhouse.

Writer Fiona Seres, also said: "The Woman In White is a powerful, poignant story and I have absolutely loved adapting this epic for the screen. I'm thrilled it's attracted such an exciting, high-calibre cast who I know will bring it to life in a unique and intimate way."
Director Carl Tibbetts, says: "I am excited to be directing this bold contemporary reimagining of Wilkie Collins classic Victorian thriller. We have a fantastic cast who will bring some of his best loved characters to vivid life."

David Thompson of Origin Pictures, concluded: "We're delighted to be bringing Wilkie Collins' gripping novel to the screen. The story's rich canopy of characters will be well-served by a wonderful multi-talented cast. We're very excited to see this mix of new and exciting talents and much loved TV stars combine to bring a fresh and dynamic take to this classic tale."

The Woman in White is a 5x60' series and will be produced by Origin Pictures for BBC One. Adapted for television by Fiona Seres, the series will be executive produced by David Thompson for Origin Pictures and Sarah Stack for the BBC. Produced by Sarah Curtis and directed by Carl Tibbetts (Black Mirror, Humans) filming has begun for 13 weeks around Belfast in Northern Ireland.

(MH/CD)